Civil Society Forum 2006 Annual Meetings

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Civil Society Forum2006 Annual Meetings

• Michael Klein, Vice President and Chief
  Economist, International Finance Corporation

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Presentation Outline

• "Forget China, India and the internet
• economic growth is driven by women."
• - The Economist, April 15-21, 2006
• Womens contribution to trade is significant
• Challenges and Opportunities
• What IFC is doing to address these

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Womens share of employment in export-led
industries
Country Total Employment 2003 Female employment ( share) Main sectors of production EPZ exports as of total exports
Kenya 36,348 gt75 Textiles, clothing 10
Bangladesh 2,121,000 62 Textiles, clothing, food processing, leather, pharma 60
Sri Lanka 461,033 78 Textiles, clothing, rubber products 33
Mauritius 83,609 66 Textiles, clothing, food processing footwear, jewelry 77
Source Kenya Kenya Gender and Economic Growth
Assessment, IFC, 2006.Other countries UNCTAD,
Trade and Gender in OECD, Trade and Gender
Issues and Interactions, 2005.
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80 of employment in informal economy- Cambodia
Source Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2004/05
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Key obstacles the example of Uganda

• Women enterprises face additional obstacles, esp.
  in access to finance (linked to land rights)
• How can property own property?
• (Male interviewee, WB research)

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Disparity of resources in Kenya
Womens access to resources in Kenya

• Accessing international markets is a total
  nightmare. We dont have a databank of needed
  information.
• Elizabeth Thande, Wet Farm, Ltd.

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How is IFC addressing the issues?

• IFC Gender Entrepreneurship Markets (GEM) program
  
• Grassroots Business Initiative (GBI) access to
  markets
• Africa SME Solutions Center - training
• Mainstream IFC investment outreach (e.g. MTN
  Village Phone, Financial Markets SME, Trade
  Microfinance)

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IFC GEM, WB FIAS - Addressing gender barriers
in the investment climate in Uganda
Womens share of resources in Ugandan economy

• Gender and Growth Assessment analyses gender
  dimensions of the business environment
• Process
• Government, womens civil society organizations
  business associations, private sector
  collaboration
• Key recommendations
• Reducing barriers to formalization
• Business and technical training
• Access to land finance
• Credit registry

• Key outcomes
• Advocacy - Gender Coalition
• Legislative change
• DFCU bank line of credit
• Training for businesswomen

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IFC Grassroots Business Initiative SEWA

• Expanding markets for handicrafts made by women
• IFC Areas of Assistance
• Further commercialization of SEWA trade
  facilitation center
• Optimal strategy develoment
• Replication of model in other parts of India